Chonky Boys: The Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches that Scream Summer!

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Featuring my thick and nuggy Chonky Boy Chocolate Chip Cookies, these ice cream sandwiches are the stuff that summer dreams are made of.  If you've ever had the Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich at Disneyland , you are going to LOVE these!  These big and bold chocolate chip cookies are based on a recipe from my culinary school studies at Auguste Escoffier, but with a few modifications to give them that Jennuine touch.  They make the perfectas book for a fat slice of real vanilla bean ice cream.  And those mini chips?  You just gotta have that extra cronch! Thank goodness this recipe only makes 8 sandwiches, otherwise I would be eating them for breakfast lunch and dinner.  This way, my big family can help save me from my inner child diet-saboteur.   Print With Image Without Image Chonky Boy Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches Yield: 8 Author: Jenn Erickson Loaded with chocolate chips and buttery, brown-sugary vanilla flavor, these mall-sized cookies form a perfect partnership with a

CHOCOLATE IS THE NEW CARBONITE ~ HAN SOLO CHOCOLATE BAR DIY

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Last summer I taught a chocolatiering class for children.  We covered a variety of techniques, but my favorite (and the one that really appealed most to my "inner child") was the project using a quick setting, flexible, silicone modelling compound to make custom chocolate molds.  
 

Being a child of the 70s, and a diehard Star Wars fan, my immediate thought was HAN SOLO!  Yes, I am not only a culinary geek, but a pop culture & Star Wars nerd as well (and proud of it).  My friend Giuseppe whose son was taking the class had the same idea, and much to my delight, had the original action figure of Han Solo frozen in Carbonite!  The modelling compound was costly, so I ended up having the kids in the class make molds of sea shells, rather than casting larger toys, so Han got a reprise.

A few weeks ago, we had some of our good friends over for dinner, and guess who came along?  Han Solo.  Apparently Giuseppe had decided that we had put off Han's cocoa incarceration for long enough.  I had saved a portion of the modelling compound for the task, so without a moment's hesitation, the process was begun.

To give our "Han" a little somethin' extra, we embedded a pretzel stick ~ 
that perfect sweet/salty combination, and a great crunch!  
A little disturbing?  Yes.  Delicious?  Absolutely!

So, perhaps Star Wars doesn't float your boat.   Not to worry ~ with the easy-to-use Silicone Plastique, you can cast just about anything! A vintage spoon?  Yup!  Your child's favorite toy?  Sure thing!  Your middle finger (a sweet way to send a not-so-sweet message)?  If you wish.
To make your own custom chocolate molds, you need only two things:

 1)  Silicone Plastique ~ Food Grade Silicone Mold Putty
2)  The item you wish to cast
Here's how it's done:

Step 1
photo courtesty of makeyourownmolds.com

Silicone Plastique is comprised of two separate components ~ Part A is blue and Part B is white.  Both are about the consistency of play-doh.  You will need equal parts A&B to mold your item.

Step 2
Silicone Plastique step 2
photo courtesty of makeyourownmolds.com

Knead equal parts A & B until thoroughly incorporated.  It's ready to use when your compound is a consistent light blue.  

Step 3
Silicone Plastique step 3
photo courtesty of makeyourownmolds.com

Roll or press compound (by hand or rolling pin) to twice the thickness of the object being molded.  Silicone Plastique has a working time of about ten minutes before it starts to set.  Press object into compound.  Do not remove it.  Make sure all the areas you wish to mold are being hugged by the compound.  The mold will be completely cured and ready to use in an hour.

Step 4
photo courtesty of makeyourownmolds.com

Remove object.  Fill mold cavity with melted chocolate. When chocolate has set, the flexible mold will allow you to easily remove the finished product.

The Molds are
FLEXIBLE
REUSABLE
FOOD SAFE

You can use the molds for 
CHOCOLATE
FONDANT OR MARZIPAN
SOAP MAKING
CANDLE MAKING

 MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!

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